There are numerous types of masks that come from the West African region, each represent a specific personality trait. Masks from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Gambia, and Sierra Leone all symbolize the various characteristics that can found in people. To find a mask that best fit my personality, I researched the various amount of masks that can be found in Ghana. Birds have been an important part in ancient animist cultures, whose tribal people believed that birds had spirits and played special roles in many aspects of life. Several African masks depict a bird on or above a human forehead, signifying a range of personalities from courage to intelligence. One of these masks is the Sonu Bird
The buk, or mask, comes from the Mabuiag island in the Torres Strait. The Torres Strait is located between Papua New Guinea and Australia, and contains hundreds of islands. The mask is made of turtle shell, wood, fiber, feathers, and shell, and was created in the mid to late 19th century. Intricate masks and figures made from plates of turtle shell are unique to the people of the Torres strait. The majority of pieces that come from this area incorporate the use of the turtle shell in some way. This mask is divided into three registers; the top containing feathers, the middle containing the face and body of a bird, and the bottom containing a human face. The mask includes certain decorative aspects that are stitched onto it, such as the curved pieces on the side of the face or the raffia, or palm tree leaves, used as hair. This mask is one part
This mask depicts Jack’s identity from the book Lord of the Flies. Starting from the bottom of the mask, there is a quote from Jack which is one of the last things he says before leaving Ralph’s group: “I’m not going to play any longer. Not with you”. This quote is significant to Jack because not only does it show the end of the impact on Jack that the tamed and edified society Ralph has developed, it shows how childish he is. Before Jack says this, he puts Ralph’s conch on the grass in front of him and cries.
Aztec masks were used as ornaments, and were sometimes worn as part of a ritual, or in death as a death mask. They usually represented one god or another, and the Aztecs did have countless gods. Like the artistry and materials, the Aztecs worshipped gods collected from a variety of cultures. A common type of mask would have snakes on it, a representation of the god Quetzalcoatl or perhaps Tlaloc. The masks generally then were used for worship of the gods, whether by being displayed in a temple or worn by a priest.
African masks range from small and plain to being decorated with bright colours and intricate detail that cover the face of the wearer, or be large enough to conceal the entire body. Many tribes believed the person that donned the mask took on the spirit it represented. Different masks that mix human and animal forms also celebrated the bond between the animal and human worlds. Conversely, this same mix and reverence are also evident in Native American culture and ceremonies as well as other cultures worldwide.
he ivory mask, comprised of ivory, iron, and copper, is 9 inches high, 5 inches wide, and 3 inches deep. Located near the top of the mask, heads representing the Portuguese exemplifies the control Benin had over Europeans. Creating a trend, the Portuguese continued to appear in many Benin art pieces throughout time. The Portuguese were so often found being referred to in the art pieces of the Benin because “the Edos thought they were from the world of the dead because of their white skin.” The distinguishing feature in the ivory mask is high coral crown which depicts a coiffure, a hairstyle commonly worn during those times by high ranking Edo women.
Many of the most exciting and unusual works of art are the surviving Aztec face masks. These masks represent the Aztec people and the culture. There are incredibly few masks in existence today because the majority of them were destroyed by the fall of the empire. Museums all over the world still have some of the pieces on display. You can also find a few pieces in London's British Museum, Paris's Museum of Man, and Chicago's Field Museum
This mask depicts Idia, the mother of the 16th century Beninese leader Esigie. Produced some time in the sixteenth century, this mask is not the only one of its kind. Composed of iron, elephant ivory and bronze, the mask was mostly ceremonial (MM). Masks of this nature were worn either on the hip or around the neck of the Oba, or ruler among Edo peoples (MM). The precious nature of the materials used in these masks indicates their royal status.
These two African masks have similar and different qualities. Mask A and Mas B both have continuous figures on the top of the crown. Both facial features lack eyebrows but they both have to vertical lines on the forehead, and they both contain beards. In both Mask, the crown sits on the head with a straight square outline. Lastly, both Mask have similar end design on the beards and on the crowns.
Furthermore, Masks is another great example used by Sam Gill. He clearly reveals that often times we misinterpret the meaning of mask: that they only hold a space on a shelf among others like itself, otherwise known as a collection. However, masks hold a bigger significance than that. To the Natives, masks are living and when masked performances take place, the deities are present. To view mask as art alone is to minimize the actual beauty and value behind the entire mask and its' function. There is a reason for its existence and it's not just to be creative and productive. Typically, we consider masks as objects that hide or conceal something. In the Native Americans' case, this is the furthest from the truth. Performing a mask in a ritual is
The third mask also deals with a secret society. This carved wood “Helmet Mask” (inventory # 5-13259) is thought to be from the Bamileke society of Cameroon and is dated to about 1976. Used in a men’s secret society known as the Kwifo (“night”), masks in this style disguised the members identities as they acted as a police force for the king. The Kwifo mediated conflicts, pronounced legal sentences, and carried out the resulting punishments. Different masks represented the various powers of the group and the carved headdress of this mask mirrors the prestige caps worn by elites and kings. The intertwined “legs” represent the earth spider, which, because it lived underground was thought to unite the world of the ancestors and spirits, who live in the earth, with that of humans. Revered for its supernatural wisdom and power it is often consulted
These masks, which are used by Jacks followers called ‘the hunters,’ are made of clay paint. The evilness of the boys is clearly shown when they wear the masks. It is almost as if an infectious disease is spread upon them; they lose all sense of civilization. After Jack paints the mask on his face for the first time, it is clear what it does to him. “He began to dance and his laughter became a blood thirsty snarling. “He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness.” (Golding 64). This not only shows the cruelty of the mask, but it also shows how it opens Jack into the world of being a savage. Also, Golding mentions the colors of Jack’s first mask as being Red, White, and Black. These colors symbolize “violence, terror, and evil.” (Golding).
African masks were to establish a different identity for the wearer in order to amuse, teach, or sacrifice.
You may be preparing to scuba dive Nassau Bahamas, but you'll need to check if you have all of the proper equipment first. A proper scuba diving mask is a crucial part of your equipment, but there are many different types of mask to choose from. Whether you're purchasing a mask now or just wish to expand your knowledge on the topic, there are four main types of mask that you should learn about.
Facial masks are extremely important to keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized, it also helps with keeping excess oils from seeping into your skin (New Hope). Some facial masks can be expensive; many people don’t know that you can make your own with some appliances in your pantry. The supplies needed will be, a bowl, oatmeal (any type, flavor, or brand will be fine), honey, and warm water. After you’ve gather all the supplies, you’ll start by taking the bowl and pouring three tablespoons of oatmeal into it. Then pour one tablespoon of warm water into the bowl. After that, you’ll add one tablespoon of honey to the mixture. Stir the mixture up to the desired consistency, if the mixture seems too think for your liking you can choose to add
Everyone uses masks to free them to do, say or act in a manner that they normally wouldn’t. People use them all the time, whether it is just changing to treat someone a certain way or just needing to be a different way to make a situation better, but can also be used in harmful ways that can be used to compel violence. Masks manipulate us to hide from our true selves, they will make the one who wears one inferior to all others. In the story, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the world is in the middle of the biggest war ever, the power of masks and anonymity throughout this time period establish the terror. They put on these masks to give them the freedom to commit terrorizing acts and have no shame, alike with how William Golding allowed his characters have their power over the others. Golding had his characters apply paint to their faces which then altered the boy's mindset to act in a detrimental way. The mindset these boys obtain leads to many cruel parts in the story, including the killing of other boys on the island. This demonstrates the effect and power of being anonymous that is provided to these blood-thirsty boys. Before Jack and the boys used their masks to release their inner-savage, they were civilized, but having anonymity enables them to kill, not only pigs but other boys.